Nutrition therapy in peanut allergy

Background: The diagnosis “peanut allergy” is often frightening for affected persons and their families because it is perceived as life-threatening much more often than allergies to other foods. In order to be able to realistically assess risks, alleviate or dispel emerging concerns, and effectively counteract the feeling of being powerless over this diagnosis, good education, integration of affected families into existing structures, and their support in everyday life are needed. Results and discussion: Effective disease management in (peanut) allergy is based on four pillars: (a) a confirmed diagnosis, (b) knowledge about the occurrence of peanut—especially in processed form, (c) situational risk assessment as a basis for individual avoidance strategies that promise the greatest possible safety, but at the same time do not restrict the quality of life more than necessary, and (d) learning to deal adequately with unforeseen incidents (emergency management) to avoid severe allergic reactions. Conclusion: This requires close cooperation between pediatricians or allergists, allergy-experienced nutritionists or dieticians and ideally psychologists. Furthermore, the membership of a patient organization and the participation of affected persons and their environment in training measures (e.g. anaphylaxis training) is useful. © 2021, Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.